The creature lowered its colossal head.
Six ember-like eyes remained fixed on Uriel.
The clearing fell into absolute silence.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Even the wind seemed to retreat from the ancient forest.
Captain Darius slowly lifted his shield.
"Hold the line."
Ellis and Tovin stepped forward without hesitation, forming a wall of steel before the wounded. Garron planted the head of his axe into the earth, lowering his stance. Lyra's bow was already drawn, though the slight tremble in her fingers betrayed her uncertainty.
The hunters did not raise their weapons.
Instead, they bowed their heads.
Not in fear.
In respect.
Uriel noticed it immediately.
"You know this creature."
The huntress never took her eyes off the beast.
"We don't know it."
"We respect it."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"It has guarded this forest since before my grandmother's grandmother was born."
One of the younger hunters swallowed hard.
"We call it the Grimhart."
The name lingered in the air.
Unlike a monster born from myth, it sounded like something generations of ordinary people had named after surviving countless encounters.
The Grimhart took another step.
The earth groaned beneath its weight.
Its body resembled an immense stag sculpted from dark stone, but veins of molten crimson pulsed beneath its hide. Branch-like antlers reached into the canopy, scattering silver leaves with every movement.
Uriel tightened his grip on his sword.
"Nox."
The serpent answered at once.
Don't draw your blade.
"It looks ready to kill us."
It isn't deciding.
"Then what is it doing?"
The serpent was quiet for several moments.
Judging.
The Grimhart stopped only a few paces away.
Its burning gaze drifted over each member of the company.
Captain Darius.
Veyra.
Maera.
The wounded soldiers.
The hunters.
Then...
It returned to Uriel.
For several heartbeats, nothing happened.
Uriel refused to look away.
The creature's eyes reflected in the cracked porcelain of his mask.
Somewhere deep inside his mind...
A memory stirred.
A forest.
Not this one.
A younger voice laughing.
A giant silhouette standing between frightened children and something hidden in the darkness.
Then—
The memory vanished before he could grasp it.
He staggered slightly.
Veyra caught his arm.
"What happened?"
"I..."
"I almost remembered something."
The Grimhart exhaled.
Warm mist rolled across the clearing.
Then, to everyone's astonishment...
It turned away.
Without a roar.
Without a charge.
Without a single act of violence.
It simply walked past them.
Its massive antlers brushed the silver branches overhead as it disappeared deeper into the forest.
The tension shattered all at once.
Ellis let out the breath he had been holding.
"I thought we were dead."
"So did I," Garron admitted.
Captain Darius slowly lowered his shield.
"No."
He looked toward the retreating creature.
"It wasn't hunting."
The huntress finally lowered her bow.
The hunters around her did the same, though none of them completely relaxed.
She stepped forward.
"My name is Rowan."
"I lead the Wardens of Silverwood."
Veyra inclined her head in return.
"Veyra."
"Commander of the Serpent Vanguard."
Captain Darius rested a hand on the pommel of his sword.
"Darius."
"My men and I thank you for holding your fire."
Rowan gave a small nod.
"Your discipline made that easier."
The others introduced themselves one after another.
Ellis.
Garron.
Lyra.
Tovin.
Merek.
When Maera stepped forward, Rowan's attention lingered.
"I'm Maera."
"A historian."
"A dangerous profession," Rowan replied.
Maera smiled.
"So I've been told."
A few of the hunters chuckled.
The atmosphere softened.
Then Rowan turned toward the masked warrior.
She didn't ask his name.
She already knew it.
"Uriel."
There was no fear in her voice.
Only quiet curiosity.
"I know the name."
"And I know your companion."
Her eyes drifted briefly to the serpent tattoo resting on his forearm.
"But names survive longer than people."
She met his gaze.
"So tell me..."
"Who are you?"
The question lingered between them.
Uriel searched for an answer.
Not one he could give.
Not one he truly possessed.
After a long silence, he spoke.
"I don't know."
The words were simple.
Honest.
Rowan studied him for several moments before giving the slightest nod.
"I believe you."
Veyra looked at her.
"That's enough?"
"It has to be."
"If he truly knew who he was..."
Rowan glanced toward the forest where the Grimhart had vanished.
"...I don't think we'd be having this conversation."
Nox stirred beneath the tattoo.
She's perceptive.
Uriel resisted the urge to smile.
Don't look so surprised.
"I'm not."
You are.
He ignored the serpent.
For the first time since leaving the Forgotten Vault, the two groups stood together not as enemies, but as travelers sharing the same uncertain road.
One of Rowan's hunters hurried from the trees.
"Captain."
She turned.
"What is it?"
"The eastern watch."
"We found tracks."
"How many?"
"Four."
"Wolves?"
The hunter shook his head.
"No."
"Men."
Rowan's expression hardened.
"Poachers?"
"Maybe."
"Or scouts."
Captain Darius exchanged a glance with Veyra.
"The war is spreading."
"It always does," Rowan replied quietly.
Maera stepped toward Rowan.
"You mentioned a settlement."
"There is one?"
Rowan nodded.
"Greyhaven."
"It's three hours from here."
"Small."
"But safe."
"Safe enough."
She paused before adding,
"If you intend to go there..."
"...keep your masks and swords close."
Uriel tilted his head.
"Why?"
Rowan looked toward the distant hills beyond the trees.
"The kingdoms may be fighting each other."
"But that's not what worries us."
"What does?"
"The roads."
"No one's been keeping them."
"Bandits?"
"Sometimes."
"Mercenaries."
"Runaways."
"Hungry people."
She looked each of them in the eye.
"Wars don't only create armies."
"They create survivors."
Those words lingered with the company.
It was the first reminder that the world beyond Eldan Roa had not frozen while they searched ancient vaults.
People were still trying to live.
Trying to eat.
Trying to endure.
Nox finally spoke.
I like her.
Uriel almost smiled.
"Why?"
She doesn't exaggerate.
Rowan noticed the faint movement beneath Uriel's sleeve.
Her eyes lingered on the serpent tattoo for only a heartbeat.
She chose not to ask about it.
Some questions, she knew, earned answers only with time.
Instead, she turned toward her hunters.
"We're escorting them to the forest road."
Several hunters looked surprised.
"The council won't like that."
"They don't have to."
Her tone ended the discussion.
The hunters immediately began moving.
Captain Darius watched them with quiet approval.
"They trust you."
"They trust the forest."
"I'm just borrowing that trust."
The two groups began walking together beneath the silver canopy.
For the first time in many days, the journey didn't feel like an escape.
It felt like the beginning of something larger.
Far behind them...
Hidden among the ancient trees...
The Grimhart watched in silence.
Its six glowing eyes followed the masked swordsman until he disappeared from view.
Then it lowered its head.
As though acknowledging something only it understood.